“I must say this evening has spoiled me forever,” Fiorina told the crowd.

“I think every speech should begin with a shot of tequila,” she added, pausing to let out a tongue trill to the delight of the crowd.

Fiorina, who’s in a tight race with Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, appeared totally at ease at the event.

The appearance also was important for Whitman, who’s come under fire recently in the wake of reports that she had employed an undocumented worker. And her Democratic opponent, Attorney General Jerry Brown, made the issue a central point of attack in their debate last week.

“I’m with Carly Fiorina. We ought to do more events like this,” Whitman said.